Cabinet has approved the immediate revocation of Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144, a move that restores the Achimota Forest Reserve to its full legal status as a protected forest and reverses the excision of portions of the reserve.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, during the Government Accountability Series, where he reaffirmed the government's commitment to conserving one of Ghana's most important urban forests.
E.I. 144, which took effect on May 1, 2022, removed approximately 361.5 acres (about 146 hectares) from the Achimota Forest Reserve, declaring that the affected land would no longer form part of the protected forest. The Executive Instrument contained detailed survey plans identifying the specific parcels that were excised.
The decision at the time sparked widespread public opposition from environmental groups, civil society organisations and members of the public, who warned that removing the protected status of portions of the forest could expose the land to commercial and residential development, threatening one of the Greater Accra Region's last remaining urban green spaces.
Buah said Cabinet has now resolved to revoke E.I. 144, as amended by E.I. 234, to restore the forest's legal protection in its entirety.
He explained that once the revocation takes effect, all lands previously removed from the reserve will automatically revert to their original status as protected forest land.
According to the Minister, the decision reflects government's determination to safeguard the Achimota Forest because of its critical environmental, ecological and social value.
He noted that the forest plays an indispensable role in carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, air quality improvement and climate regulation, while also serving as an important recreational and ecological buffer for residents of Accra and surrounding communities.
Our priority is to preserve the Achimota Forest for future generations because of its environmental importance and its role in maintaining the ecological balance of Accra and surrounding communities."
The restoration of the forest's protected status is expected to strengthen conservation efforts and prevent further encroachment or development within the reserve.
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